The locals in Dharbandora Taluka are fed up with RTO office (Office of the Assistant Director of Transport) located at Talsai which is functioning from the time Dharbandora became a taluka.
However, poor Internet connectivity and no adequate power supply have forced the locals to demand the office be shifted to a new place, suggesting premises close to the Sanjivani Sugar Factory.
According to locals, currently they are facing tremendous hardship on account of these two issues and are forced to visit the RTO office frequently.
“Due to the poor Net connectivity and frequent power outages, people are forced to frequently visit the RTO office until their official works like registration, renewal of licence, payment of taxes, fitness certificate and many official works with the office are finished,” said Jeetendra Naik, Nagesh Sawanth and many other locals.
Internet connection failures or power outages last sometimes from 2 to 4 hours a day affecting the work.
“It is strange that when there is power, the Internet connections are down and vice versa,” said the locals.
“Sometimes we are also forced to also pay fines for late payment of taxes for no fault of ours,” said Jeetendra Naik.
A local said that Sanvordem MLA Deepak Pauskar had promised to shift the place at a location near Sanjivani Sugar Factory and hoped that he will do it as early as possible.
Some of the locals and staff in office claimed there is nuisance of rats, monkey and reptiles at the premises. Surprisingly, the RTO office staff have maintained a registrar book to keep a daily record of power outages and Internet failures since 2014.
Some staff, on condition of anonymity said they too are fed up with power outages and Internet connectivity which gets their work delayed. Some locals said it becomes difficult to sit in office for long in the hot atmosphere due to power failures. In rainy season the staff alleged they sit on their chairs in darkness after power failure.
When Herald reporter visited the office there were around 13 working staff along with Assistant Director of Transport Madan Fatarpekar who were all sitting in darkness due to power failure.
Agreeing to the locals’ complaints about the delays, Madan said delays occur due to frequent power failure.
“Even I have sent a proposal to the authorities to shift the office elsewhere as early as possible so as to address grievances of citizens. Most probably we will get new premises near the Sanjivani Sugar Factory and we are likely shift soon,” said Madan.
